ANIRBAN GHOSH Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners seek equal pay for equal work and have challenged an order dated 22nd December, 2013 passed by the Secretary, School Education Department, Law Branch, Government of West Bengal.

(2.) The petitioners serve as contractual part-time teachers and were selected under guidelines framed by the State Government dated 24th September, 2002 at a consolidated pay of Rs.2000/- per month against the sanctioned posts for a period of one year. The period of appointment was extended thereafter by subsequent orders.

(3.) The impugned order was passed following a direction of a learned Single Judge of this court on 8th October, 2013 on the Secretary to the Government of West Bengal to consider the representation made by the petitioner for being accorded the same rights as that of permanent full-time teachers in Governmentaided schools. By the order impugned, the Secretary rejected the prayer of the petitioners on the ground that the petitioner's service cannot be regularized as a permanent teacher and that the petitioners were not entitled to the salary of permanent teachers appointed against permanent vacancy. The impugned order culminates with the Secretary, School Education Department, withdrawing an earlier G.O. no. 1176- SE (S) dated 28th July, 2010 by which the Part-time contractual teachers were entitled to ten days casual leave and ten days medical leave subject to taking an equal number of classes per week as that of regular full-time teachers.